Shortness of breath after stopping smoking

It took me 15 months to feel better...funny how after a year people start to feel better....I am just thankful for this forum....it made me feel sane!

Today makes 500 days on my quit, its been a very long dark road and it continue , the darkness is beginning to let in a little light now and then but not much,I quit on June 21 2013 today its November 3rd 2014 I dont have a clue when this may end. but I hope its soon. I was also taking zanax for sleep at night, and now I found out that getting off of them is hard, its worst than cigs, and it cause most of my anxiety, and shortness of breath,and it takes a very long time on withdrawal, so to any one taking zanax and trying to quit, make sure you cut down to .25 for a month before stopping taking zanax. it will help you a lot and , get off of that junk as soon as possible. THANKS RALPH

Hi Ralph!  Glad to see that you are beginning to see some improvement!  :-)

That stuff is bad news. What makes me wonder is doctors just write up prescriptions for those like it's nothing? When I first quit, I was on Klonopin for 2 weeks. I hated the feeling of them so I stopped and even after 2 weeks at a low dose had issues. I will never take that crap again. Try Clames Forte it's all natural. It works good when your mind is wondering before bed. You can pick it up at CVS or Walmart. Keith

Thankfully, my anxiety just went away on it's own....what a journey I must say....

If anyone is on zanax and trying to quit, use BUSPIRONE it takes about 2 weeks to kick in so be patince it does work to get rid of withdrawal symptons . THANKS RALPH

Thanks Keith I will pick up some today, I was wondering why my SOB was getting worse now i know, I also was on SYMBICORT and came off both at the same time, thought i would die, it was horrible but I was only on .5 mg a day for a year . To long thats why you should always do research on any drug that a doctor prescribe you, it could be that final nail in your coffin. THANKS RALPH

Thanks Angel, just trying to get off all these steroids and zannies these doctors prescribe,not caring if they kill you,or make your condition worse than it was, gotta do your own research on them, they the doctors are like auto mechanic,you got to know they just want your money and sometimes they care less about your car, or health, as long as they can support a very nice lifestyle, THANKS RALPH

So true...one valuable lesson I have learned through this journey is to be your own advocate!

Well pne year has come and gone and have not touched one.....zero......zilch....nada. I'm a little heavier but feel A LOT healthier. I bought a real nice hybrid bike for my daughter's birthday and figured it would be a good idea for me to pick one up. I work a 2 week on and 2 week off job so when im home, we ride a lot which I really like The anxiety is almost nonexistent now. I get one every once and a while, but is short lived ans controllable. It really seems like a bad dream.....

A bad dream that is finally over. I've been away and it seems Angel, that you are doing better.

OMG David...I am doing fantastic....I can't believe but just as recent as April of this year I felt as tho I was going do die every single day...it was a very sad situation...today....I feel like a new person....I have so much energy...I hiked 5 miles on Sunday and felt wonderful...back in April I couldn't even walk 5 steps without feeling winded, like an elephant was on my chest! Pure amazement!

Wow that is great! Like you said, I remember saying to you not long ago, go out, enjoy time with your family forget the SOB. Now like magic it's gone. How do you explain why this happened? I really feel it's all in your state of mind. So nice to see you are well and we are all getting over this. I hope we continue to post here and help new people along because it can be done and this site has helped me immensely as well. It was good to see David post his progress. Keith

I believe I first noticed the difference in being able to walk some distance without severe SOB was when my anxiety began disappearing...anxiety that only came once I stopped smoking...then, each day I began feeling so much better...now, I "stretch" my lungs out by going on the treadmill or walking just because I took for granted how I missed walking when I couldn't, ya know what I mean! Now I love it!

Well hello Angel I am so glad that your almost there, does this mean you no longer need oxygen? and your lungs are now pulling in 100% and not 60% be so glad when I reach that destination, keep us posted when you reach that full recovery point please, and may god bless you on the rest of your journey through life. THANKS RALPH